Botox Friday

Yesterday I got Botox injections again and it’s working wonders! In a 3 month period, I only had to use 11 Imitrex pills for migraines versus 27.

Note: I count migraines with the number of pills I have to take because I absolutely hate dragging a calendar around with me.

The majority of the migraines I did have were in the past 90 days due to either significant triggers (MSG/red dye consumed and a coworker with an air freshener) or just the fact that it was starting to wear off and an increase in weather precipitation (i.e., barometric pressure changes).

I can’t wait to see how I do this spring and fall when my migraines generally worsen because of the seasons changing. It will also be nice to try being outside more during the summer (bright sunlight is another trigger).

27 Days

Up until last Friday, that’s how long it had been since my last migraine! I seriously cannot recall in the last 10 years when that has happened.

Now, I got Botox right around the Half Marathon and then…tragedy struck…I got the absolute worst all-day-couldn’t-get-rid-of-it migraine the day before. We even had to make an emergency trip to a CVS because I had taken my last Imitrex. Fortunately, the morning of the marathon it had gone away.

And Friday was the first day I needed to take an Imitrex since that refill.

Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s been a near miss “Can I hold out and sleep it off?” kind of situation on a few occasions. I’ve still been suffering headaches every day which are mainly due to my sinuses.

However, in the past 4 months (since I figured out the correct dosage and placement for the Botox injections), I’ve gone 10 days without any pain medication (in a 24 hour period) and, in the past 30 days, only taken 1 Imitrex.

That’s what you call a BREAKTHROUGH!

New Meds, Day I

So I got Botox done in November and I’ve been a little underwhelmed by the results. First I must say that it does in fact freeze your face muscles. However, I’ve only seen a decrease of about 3 migraines/month. Which IS an improvement (ie, I don’t have to refill my Imitrex as often), but not significant enough to warrant $905 every 3 months.

OH, AND DIDN’T I TELL YOU…It cost me $905???

But that’s another story–I was told it would cost $750 bucks, that I had to pay for up front for my neurologist to even order it, and then 2 weeks AFTER I got the injections I got a call saying I owed them more money. I’m not going to explain my disdain right now because I’m still in the process of fighting Susquehanna Health from having to pay that extra amount.

Fortunately, my neurologist was not upset when I told him I was not forking over that kind of money to him again but I would be going to Ecker Plastic Surgery to get the same procedure down for $300-$600 (it depends on how much of the Botox solution you get injected). I’m more than willing to continue getting the injections if it does work. The research shows the more times you get it, the more effective it is. My next Botox appointment is in February with a follow-up with the neurologist.

Ok, so back to my meds…

Another week, another ER visit

Ok, I’ve kind of fallen off the face of the earth lately. My headaches have been taking up a lot of my effort. And when I don’t have a headache or migraine, I’ve been watching tv or Gossip Girl seasons 1 &2. Side note: I LOVE Gossip Girl…but more on that later.

I had to go to the emergency room again last weekend for a migraine. Great. At which point I realized I never received bills for the co-pays for my last 2 visits. UH OH, that’s not good. So I start to investigate.